Author: Lauren Warnecke
Illinois Symphony features soloists from among its ranks in intimate ‘Magnificent Mozart’
BLOOMINGTON, IL–As Maestro Ken Lam announced what he called the “main dish” of a three-course musical meal Saturday at Bloomington’s Second Presbyterian Church, musicians adjusted…
Big Muddy’s minimalist, modern day ‘Christmas Carol’ aims to forge a path for a Dickensian dance tradition
ST. LOUIS–It’s only been a week since the inaugural Big Muddy Dance Festival, and The Big Muddy Dance Company, who produced the expo, performances and workshop series…
Dance weaves a thread through 2019 Chicago International Film Festival
CHICAGO—A triptych of films screened Thursday to Sunday, collectively marketed under the header In Focus: Dance, forms an anchor point of the 2019 Chicago International…
Second ‘Evening of Ballet Stars’ a mix of contemporary and classic pas de deux
ST. LOUIS—With their second edition of “An Evening of Ballet Stars,” Dance St. Louis aimed to find out if lighting does, indeed, strike twice in…
Life is neither good nor bad—Ravinia’s first full-length ‘Candide,’ however, was very good
HIGHLAND PARK, IL—My last trip to the Ravinia Festival was on opening week in early June. It was unseasonably cold and blustery; wind whipped picnic blankets and…
At Physical Theater Festival, Aura CuriAtlas’s acrobats act out Steven Hawking’s story
CHICAGO — Two festivals which ran simultaneously this month — the Pivot Arts Festival in Uptown and Edgewater and the Physical Theater Festival in Lakeview…
First weekend of Pivot Arts Fest challenges Euro-centrism with multidisciplinary forays
CHICAGO — Summer is just beginning, and Chicago is itching to hit the beach. Last Sunday was sunny, but deceptively cold. The chill in the…
Tap bookends ballet and Hubbard Street in 2019 Spring to Dance finale
ST. LOUIS, MO — On National Tap Dance Day, tappers opened and closed the final evening of Spring to Dance, capping three full days of…
Musical monotony needn’t be the rule, but at Spring to Dance, it’s a trend
ST. LOUIS, MO — It’s not a new trend. Contemporary dance has shared a kinship with minimalistic music for decades. As an undergraduate dance major…
Contemporary is king on first night of Spring to Dance
ST. LOUIS, MO — With nightly performances through Saturday at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, the annual Spring to Dance festival is slowly building to…
